PINE MOUNTAIN, Georgia – In the foothills of the Appalachians you will find Callaway Resort & Gardens, a legendary golf experience surrounded by a 2,500-acre, year-round resort, residential community and preserve.
Open since 1952, Callaway Resort & Gardens was the vision of Cason and Virginia Callaway who longed for a place where man and nature could abide together for the good of both. Cason Callaway had a vision that “playing golf should be a pleasant experience in beautiful surroundings.” Offering the perfect mix of championship golf and old-fashioned Southern hospitality, thousands of visitors trek to this pristine paradise to breathe in the fresh mountain air, glimpse the wildlife and simply get away.
While outdoor enthusiasts — walkers, hikers, bicyclists, birdwatchers, boaters, fishermen, and zipliners — have been visiting Callaway Gardens since the resort opened, golf remains the number one athletic attraction at this resort, which is one of the many destinations on the Georgia Golf Trail. In fact, Callaway Gardens is one of the 18 founding members of the Georgia Golf Trail.
“Without a doubt, Callaway Resort and Gardens is one of the jewels of the Georgia Golf Trail,” said Doug Hollandsworth, founder, Georgia Golf Trail. “This resort offers as much to do for the golfer as the non-golfer.”
Whether you prefer a more challenging PGA-level golf course or a fun, scenic course with lots of water hazards, you’ll find it at Callaway Resort and Gardens.
LAKE VIEW COURSE
The 18-hole, par-70, Lake View Golf Course is very playable from the back tees – a shade under 6,200 yards. The course’s biggest defense is the water which comes into play on nine holes, including a memorable six-hole stretch around Mountain Creek Lake. Like many resort courses, which are focused on being player-friendly, Lake View has very wide fairways.
When the course was designed by J.B. McGovern and Dick Wilson, the goal was to design a course that is as beautiful to visit as it is fun to play. McGovern and Wilson were successful, as this course’s design reflects the philosophy of Callaway Gardens founder Cason Callaway, who always said that if a golfer lifts his or her head on a shot at Lake View, “they should see something beautiful.”
At Lake View, the golf experience is truly a tale of two nines, as the front nine is a little tighter with tree-lined fairways. The back nine is far more open and not as penal on wayward tee shots. The Signature Hole at Lake View is the par-three 10th hole, which features an island tee and a serpentine bridge. This is a selfie ‘hot-spot.’ A birdie at the 10th is a memory maker.
As you transition from the 10th green to the 11th tee, you’ll pass a rustic looking two-story building that is the original golf clubhouse at Callaway Gardens. While it’s still an operational facility, it’s been transformed. On the top story is a fine dining option – The Gardens Restaurant. Down below is a snack shop for golfers. While dining at The Gardens Restaurant, you will have a splendid view of Mountain Creek Lake and the 10th hole.
Lake View Course Facts:
- Par 70 with four sets of tees ranging from 4,473 to 6,158 yards
- Design by J.B. McGovern, longtime assistant to the legendary Donald Ross, and Dick Wilson
- Water on nine holes, including five holes routed along scenic Mountain Creek Lake
- Signature par-3 10th hole featuring island tee and serpentine bridge
- Former Golf Digest “Places to Play” Four-Star Winner
MOUNTAIN VIEW COURSE
The par-72 Mountain View Golf Course is a worthy and deserving former host of the PGA Tour’s Buick Challenge because it is a tournament-approved test of golf.
This course stretches up to 7,057 yards from the back tees. There are three other shorter tees to play from at Mountain View, which was designed by golf course architect Dick Wilson. He designed a course which has tighter fairways which are lined by towering pines.
The Signature Hole at Mountain View is the par-five 6th, where the tee shot and the approach shot to the green are played over water.
To play Mountain View, it helps to be a shotmaker and to have a strategic mindset. Your golfing weaknesses will be exposed when you play Mountain View. If you have a ‘big-boy’ attitude and can accept a bogey on any given hole, you’ll enjoy playing Mountain View.
Mountain View Course Facts:
- Par 72 with four sets of tees ranging from 4,883 to 7,057 yards
- Design by Dick Wilson, architect of Chicago’s renowned Cog Hill No. 4
- Tight fairways lined by towering pines
- Signature par-5 sixth hole with tee and approach shots over water
- Former Golf Digest “Places to Play” Four-Star Winner
Not only is Callaway Resort & Gardens one of the best golf resorts in Georgia, but the experience extends beyond the course. At 2,500 acres, outdoor adventures abound, from water skiing, tennis and skeet shooting to fly fishing, biking, hiking and even a circus. The TreeTop Adventure aerial challenge course includes zip lines, swinging bridges and logs. And of course, the famous gardens themselves with a birds of prey program, horticultural center and butterfly house.
When you’re ready to find your next destination, think Callaway Resort & Gardens, you won’t be disappointed.
On the web: CallawayGardens.com
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